Mr. LI Qun: Qingdao’s Investment to countries along the Belt and Road Tripled

(People’s Daily, Beijing, September 21, Reporter Chu Zirui)Hosted by People's Daily, themed as “New Cooperation Prospect: Towards a Community of Common Destiny” the 2015 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road Initiative was held in Beijing on Sept 21st.Mr. Li Qun, standing committee member of Shandong Province and secretary of Qingdao Municipal Party Committee said in his speech that promoting jointly discussing, building and sharing is an important responsibility, also a great opportunity of local party government.

Li said that in AD 623, the Tang Dynasty set up Banqiao town in the north shore of Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, which has opened the door of northern maritime trade, and northern line of maritime Silk Road set sail from here. Qingdao continues to be a strategic pivot city of the new Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor in China’s Belt and Road construction.

Li said that in the first half of this year, Qingdao’s investment on countries along the Belt and Road has reached $1.37 billion, an increase of 193.5%, accounting for 71% of the total foreign investment in Qingdao. Li said that Qingdao will highlight two main colors, blue and yellow as a contribution to the Belt and Road construction. The so-called blue means ocean economy, we will deepen international cooperation and exchange on ocean economy. The so-called yellow, is to strengthen cooperation with the city along the Yellow River.

Li said that the forum has put up a platform for exchanges and cooperation, and we will seriously learn from the insights and lessons of all the experts and officials and work jointly to promote the construction of Belt and Road.